Nvidia SHIELD, SHIELD tablet get Android 5.0 and can now stream games from the cloud

Nvidia has proudly announced two major updates for their SHIELD tablet and SHIELD handheld console.

First, the devices have been updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop, with the rollout of the new operating system beginning on Tuesday, November 18th. The devices run a basically stock version of Android, with the exception of a suite of Nvidia apps. Adds the press release: "Also included in the update: SHIELD tablet's preloaded Dabbler app. Besides a new interface inspired by Lollipop's material design language, our painting software will offer full support for layers, and users can now share live Dabbler sessions over Twitch."

The second major update is the launch of GRID for SHIELD. The company calls GRID a "Netflix for games," in which you can stream video games right to the tablet/handheld. Gamers do so "by connecting to state-of-the-art NVIDIA GPU servers, the GRID service delivers a GeForce GTX gaming experience on SHIELD devices."

GRID will launch for North American gamers this month and already includes 20 titles such as Batman: Arkham City, Borderlands 2 and Psychonauts, with a new game launching weekly.